Progress in the pathogenic mechanism of Purtscher retinopathy
10.3980/j.issn.1672-5123.2025.7.08
- VernacularTitle:远达性视网膜病变致病机制的研究进展
- Author:
Min CHEN
1
;
Hongyun YUE
1
;
Bingyu YANG
1
Author Information
1. First School of Clinical Medical, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China; Ophthalmic Center, the 940th Hospital of Joint Service Support Forces of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Purtscher retinopathy;
microvascular;
embolism;
complement
- From:
International Eye Science
2025;25(7):1084-1088
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Purtscher retinopathy is an occlusive retinal microangiopathy typically associated with trauma. It is characterized by a series of retinal pathological manifestations, such as cotton wool spots, multiple gray plaques(Purtscher spots)in the posterior pole, and intraretinal hemorrhage. Notably, there is no history of direct ocular trauma, as this condition is commonly observed in cases of severe crush injuries to the head, chest, abdomen, limbs, and other regions. Purtscher-like retinopathy, on the other hand, describes extensive retinopathy occurring in the absence of trauma, often associated with conditions such as pancreatitis and connective tissue diseases. With advancements in imaging-assisted ultrastructure research, the understanding of the pathogenesis of this retinopathy has evolved. Initially, it was attributed to trauma-induced injury and the subsequent cascade of damage repair processes. However, current theories suggest that systemic lesions involving lipase, free fatty acids, or complement activation play a significant role in inducing endothelial damage to small retinal blood vessels, ultimately leading to vascular occlusion. The pathogenesis of Purtscher retinopathy is not isolated; it is now widely believed to involve anterior capillary arteriole embolism resulting from changes in retinal microvascular permeability. In addition to embolization, other mechanisms such as retinal vascular-lymphatic extravasation, vasospasm, endothelial injury, and complement activation are also considered crucial contributors to the development of this condition. This paper starts from the inflammation and vascular cascade reaction in the pathological process of trauma and non-trauma, and expounds the pathological mechanism of the disease so as to guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment, in order to find new ideas of diagnosis and treatment in the research of rare diseases.
